Prove It: Department of Transportation’s DBE Program Ceases Presumption of Disadvantaged Status for Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses
The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an Interim Final Rule effective October 3, 2025, instituting an immediate and significant change for the qualification of women- and minority-owned businesses in the DOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Program. For purposes of the DBE/ACDBE program, women- and minority-owned businesses were historically presumed to be disadvantaged, automatically meeting one of the requirements for DBE status; this is no longer the case. To remain in the program, all DBE/ACDBE certified businesses owners must be reevaluated for disadvantaged status. For more information about the DBE/ACDBE program, and how these requirements affect your business. To view the full article by Alex Farone and Janet Meub, click here.